Tom Siebel Elephant Attack: Siebel Systems Founder Seriously Hurt

  Like I feel sorry for him...  Maybe he'll get a fat embolism from this.  

As I prepare for my 23rd safari, I was deeply distressed at the reporting of the elephant charge on Tom Siebel and his guide (Mercury News, Sep. 3). I am sorry that my comments in a letter to the editor, asking to paint a more accurate picture, came much too late and the news spread like wildfire all over the internet.   My greatest concern is that people who read the article will be left with the misunderstanding that safaris are not safe, and are deterred from going to my favorite destination. I spend my entire professional life planning exciting and safe experiences to <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Africa.   Based on my experience, there are several important things that don’t add up in the way it was reported:

Did the incident occur on a private concession bordering the national park or a hunting concession, and was the name Serengeti used because of its name recognition? If they were IN the Serengeti, they should not have been walking, nor be armed. Both are illegal. Every guide, but especially a trained guide leading walking safaris on private concessions knows an elephant does not charge unprovoked and first gives off warning signs, like flapping its ears, trumpeting and mock charging before it actually attacks, unless the elephant had a prior run-in with the same guide. (An elephant’s memory is extraordinary!) A guide licensed to conduct walking safaris has far more stringent training in animal behavior than even the best guides leading the more typical vehicle safaris, and has an acute awareness of the most subtle changes in animal demeanor. They pass rigorous exams. Firing a warning shot into the air is far more effective trying to scare off an angry animal – shooting at it, enrages it further. (Again, firing a gun INSIDE a national park, either into the air or at an animal, is illegal.) In this article specifially, I question if Tom Siebel's guide was from Kenya. Kenyan guides are not allowed to guide safaris in Tanzania, and visa-versa.

  Anyone who is planning to go on safari in Africa should know that it is safe and beautiful.   Christine Eichin Above and Beyond Africa / www.YourSafariExpert.com

Many people are in LOVE with that elephant for what it did!!!!! 

Elephant has superb memory and it will remember Tom so he better not go back.

As a former Siebel employee and recalling Tom Siebel's diatribe at the annual sales summit that he didn't care about people's families when it came time to work through the Holiday Season, all I can say is the elephant didn't finish the job, and for that, Mr. Elephant, you're fired!

I agree with Upsho. I recall September 11th, 2001 when Tom Siebel tongue lashed his employees, in an email, to get back to work because he had a product (new version) to launch. He didn't care about his employees who were in the World Trade Center let alone their families. It wasn't until a VP told him that his comments were insensitive that he issued an apology....that I am sure he didn't coined. I always say if I ever meet the guy I would give him a piece of my mind. But now I don't have to because Mr. Elephant took care of that. So hats off to you Mr. Elephant and shame on you Tom. I guess you met your match.

Immediately after this incidence reported to Mercury News, I decided to make a followup of this incidence and following are my findings, though I have already commented several times but find below recent updates:-

• The accident occured in one of the Paul Tudor Jones's properties in Tanzania Grumeti Reserves (Grumeti Game Reserve and Ikorongo Game Reserve both are hunting blocks).
• The guide was known by Lee Fuller - from South Africa though in Tanzania Tourism Law is prohibited for foreign guides but due to PTJ's richness he's on the position to corrupt even the country like Tanzania so he employed these unprofessional guide. Immediately after this incidence Mr Lee was fired. Though there are other guides from the foreign countries who are still working in this PTJ's concession which are adjucent to Serengeti National Park. Lee decided to flew back to South Africa where he decided to start his own private guiding company find web www.africanequatorsafaris.com be ware of this upprofessional and unethical guide.
• Lastly I would appreciate all who have commented on this and I would encourage Tom to visit wild animals but in the careful manner and by using the well trained guides

   

I have over the last couple years enjoyed numerous trips to Tanzania as a tourist and have had the privilege of being guided by Lee Fuller once before and was also lucky enough to be guided 2 other times by a Tanzanian National at Grumeti Reserves and I must just say that the experience was amazing. I read the comment posted above by Mr. Msema Kweli Mpenzi wa Mungu and I must say that I have always been impressed by the friendliness and welcoming nature of Tanzanians but I have been deeply saddened by the spirit of the comment posted. It makes me think twice about my next trip when I see attitudes like this. Let’s not forget that someone has been hurt and having met Lee I can say he is a deeply compassionate person with a love for the bush and he certainly has a great deal of experience. It’s funny to think that while I was on my second trip, I remember my Tanzanian National guide talking about the guide training that he had been selected for by Lee Fuller and how Lee had moulded his career by teaching him through the guide training programme which Lee had designed. Whilst I am not in a position to comment on Tanzanian Laws I would imagine that any individual with a valid work permit should be able to work in your country especially if the individual has the necessary qualifications to do so and is actively training guides. I know that I would welcome anyone to my country so long as they have met the requirements and take the time out to pass on some of their intellectual capital. Would you not agree? If Mr. Msema Kweli Mpenzi wa Mungu disagees with me on this I would like to hear more from him or anyone for that matter. Dissapointed, Criss  

Sorry here is my address crisseverett@live.co.uk Cheers, Brad